Blog Page 83

Royal Caribbean’s Massive New Mega-Ship Fires Up Its First Engine

Lissa Poirot
-
0
Royal Caribbean’s Massive New Mega-Ship Fires Up Its First Engine

Key Aspects:

  • Legend of the Seas’ first main engine was successfully started on November 19, 2025.
  • Each of the six Wärtsilä next-generation engines will be powered up and tested within the next week.
  • The engines are designed to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions while capturing waste heat and recovering energy for reuse.

If you’ve been watching the rise of Royal Caribbean’s next big ship, there’s some movement happening deep inside the hull. Shipbuilder Meyer Turku just shared that Legend of the Seas has powered up its very first main engine.

As the shipbuilder works to bring the 248,663-gross-ton vessel to life, the first of the ship’s six Wärtilä next-generation engines was started for the first time on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

The new engines use a two-stage turbocharging system that’s designed to reduce fuel consumption and lower emissions compared to the previous generation of marine engines.

Together, the six engines will deliver more than 85 megawatts of power once all are online.

Meyer Turku noted that the engines do more than propel the ship. Waste heat from the cooling water and motor oil will be captured and reused in onboard systems such as the laundry, cutting down on the amount of additional fuel needed to power day-to-day functions.

The shipyard shared the news in a social media post, stating, “Legend has a total of six main engines, all of which will be running early next year. Legend runs on Wäetsilä’s next-generation, two-stage turbocharged engines. The combined power of all six engines reaches over 85 megawatts.”

Legend of the Seas first engine roars to life
Legend of the Seas’ first engine roars to life (Photo Credit: Meyer Turku)

For now, the first engine start provides a visible sign of progress on a ship that has spent months in dry dock as its steel, cabins, and interior blocks have come together. 

Read Also: Royal Caribbean Ships By Age: Newest to Oldest

With the construction schedule moving into a more technical phase, Meyer Turku says all engines should be operational early in the new year, a key requirement before trials begin.

Legend of the Seas Coming Along

Legend of the Seas, the third Icon Class vessel in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, has moved quickly through several major construction phases since work began at Meyer Turku.

Having learned from the construction of Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, the build officially started on January 12, 2024, when the first steel plate was cut.

AquaDome Installation on Legend of the Seas at Meyer Turku
AquaDome Installation on Legend of the Seas at Meyer Turku

After months of block production and early assembly, the ship reached its next major milestone with the keel-laying on October 7, 2024. Between late 2024 and mid-2025, crews at Meyer Turku continued to assemble the hull, with mechanical outfitting continuing throughout early 2025.

As anticipation builds with every new milestone, including the August 29, 2025 float out, Royal Caribbean fans cannot wait for Legend of the Seas to welcome its 5,600 guests. 

With the vessel now powered by its first running engines, the shipyard will move into propulsion and navigation testing, with sea trials expected to take place in the Baltic Sea in early 2026.

More From Cruise Hive

Once trials are complete, the ship will be handed over to Royal Caribbean in mid-2026. Legend of the Seas is scheduled to begin its inaugural sailing on July 11, 2026, weeks earlier than originally scheduled.

That sailing will kick off the ship’s Mediterranean season before it repositions to Fort Lauderdale in October 2026 for a winter in the Caribbean.

Princess Cruises Retires its Standard Vacation Protection

Lissa Poirot
-
0
Princess Cruises Retires its Standard Vacation Protection

Key Aspects:

  • Princess Cruises will retire its Standard Princess Vacation Protection plan on December 9, 2025.
  • Platinum PVP will be the only trip-protection option available for all new bookings.
  • The removal of Standard PVP also ends the loyalty perk and coincides with a rebranding of the At-Ease Waiver as Cancellation Protection.

Passengers booking future Princess Cruises sailings will see fewer insurance choices at the end of 2025. The cruise line is overhauling its travel-protection offerings beginning December 9, 2025, and retiring its Standard Princess Vacation Protection (PVP) plan.

This means passengers making new reservations on or after that date will only be able to purchase Platinum PVP, the higher-tier version that will become Princess’ single coverage option going forward.

The cost of Platinum PVP varies according to fare and has historically been more expensive than Standard PVP. A 2024-2026 North American General Policies listed Standard PVP at 9 percent of the cruise cost with Platinum PVP at 12 percent.

Platinum PVP combines two components, an insurance policy underwritten by an outside insurer and a Princess-issued cancellation waiver.

The insurance portion typically covers trip interruption, trip delay, lost or delayed baggage, medical expenses, and emergency evacuation when incidents occur during a cruise.

The waiver portion gives travelers the option to cancel for non-covered reasons and still receive a refund from Princess Cruises, minus the cost of the program.

Princess Cruises’ cancellation waiver has its own pricing structure, which is separate from the insurance policy. The waiver costs 10 percent of the net cruise fare for trips up to $5,000 per person and 8 percent for cruise fares above that amount, and these rates remain in place under the updated program.

Worth Reading: Princess Cruises Withdraws Planned Visits to Historic US Town

Princess Cruises said the move is intended to reduce confusion about available coverage.

“Starting December 9, 2025, we’re making enhancements to our Princess Vacation Protection Programs,” said the cruise line. “These changes are designed to simplify choices and expand coverage where it matters most.”

Sky Princess
Sky Princess (Photo Credit: Mateus Andre)

Passengers who already have bookings will retain access to both Standard and Platinum PVP until the final payment deadline, and the same applies to anyone who books before December 9, 2025.

Any passenger who has already purchased protection on an earlier booking will keep their exact plan with no changes. Those protections remain “grandfathered” regardless of when the sailing takes place.

Loyalty Perk Ends Too

Getting rid of Standard PVP also triggers the end of a long-running loyalty perk for frequent Princess Cruises guests. Under the current system, Ruby, Platinum, and Elite Captain’s Circle members can purchase Platinum PVP for the price of Standard PVP.

Because Standard PVP will no longer be offered for new bookings made on or after December 9, this discount will no longer apply for future reservations. The benefit continues only for bookings created before the transition date where Standard PVP remains available.

Another change taking effect that day is the renaming of the At-Ease Waiver. After December 9, it will be known as Cancellation Protection, though its function remains the same.

The program allows guests to receive a refund, minus the cost of the protection, if they cancel at least 72 hours before the first part of their Princess-arranged trip.

This may be a Princess EZair flight, a hotel included in a Cruise Plus package, or a cruisetour segment rather than the cruise embarkation itself.

The process for adding Cancellation Protection stays consistent with existing rules and it must be purchased before final payment.

More From Cruise Hive

If a booking is made after the final payment window has passed, the protection must be added immediately at the time of booking.

Cancellation Protection will be available for passengers around the world except for those in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Those will continue using existing region-specific structures.

Pier Runner Shows No Shame Reboarding Cruise Ship in Mexico

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Pier Runner Shows No Shame Reboarding Cruise Ship in Mexico

Key Aspects:

  • A cruise guest was approximately 20 minutes late returning to her ship in Ensenada, Mexico.
  • Instead of showing remorse for her tardiness, she gave onlookers the middle finger.
  • She’s now been slammed on social media, with many saying she should have been barred from boarding because of her rudeness.

While there are many key etiquette rules that cruise guests can (and often do) break, one of the biggest sins in cruising is pier running.

If you haven’t heard of pier runners before, these are the cruise guests who return to their ship at the very last minute or even after the “all aboard” time at the end of a port call.

Punctual cruise guests often get a kick out of heckling pier runners for their tardiness, who are often already in a panic in their rush back to the ship.

But if one recent Carnival guest felt any remorse for her tardiness while returning late to her cruise ship in Ensenada, Mexico, she certainly didn’t show it.

Passengers onboard captured a video of an unidentified woman who arrived late to the ship slowly walking to the gangway and rudely flipping off the guests watching from the decks and their private balconies.

“This lady was the last to board in Ensenada and spent even more time flipping everyone off,” the recent guest posted on Reddit.

They went on to say that two other guests had also arrived at the last minute shortly before the final woman, but shouted their apologies and were forgiven with applause.

“This last one was just trashy. At least we were entertained,” the guest continued.

Another guest who witnessed the stunt made an appearance in the comments section and confirmed that the woman arrived approximately 20 minutes late and she wasn’t alone.

Late Cruise Passengers in Ensenada
Late Cruise Passengers in Ensenada (Credit: OpinionatedMinion)

“I was here booing them…It was a group of 4, the first two ran so we started cheering them and these two (her man isn’t in this video) were flipping us off and getting booed. Think it was about 20 minutes past the time we were supposed to depart,” the fellow passenger shared.

Read Also: Top 6 Videos Of Cruise Passengers Missing The Ship

It’s not confirmed which Carnival ship this spectacle unfolded on, but judging by the Redditor’s description of the itinerary, it was most likely Carnival Firenze.

The Venice-class ship disembarked a 5-day sailing to the Mexican Riviera in Long Beach, California, on November 18, 2025.

This now-completed sailing included a call to Ensenada on November 17.

Pier Running is Rude & Risky

All I can say is that this pier runner was acting awfully entitled after inconveniencing the thousands of other guests and crew members onboard and putting her own cruise vacation at risk.

Others on Reddit were even harsher than me, and suggested that the woman shouldn’t have even been welcomed back onboard after her rude gesture.

Worth Reading: Pier Runner Pauses for Selfie After Missing Cruise Ship

“I wonder if she is drunk? If I was security I would be kicking her off the ship for doing that and making the ship wait on her. I swear people are entitled when it comes to cruises,” one commenter wrote.

“The way I would have raced her to put the ramp up,” another joked.

Carnival does have a Code of Conduct policy that guests are required to follow, which can result in a $500 fine or other penalties if broken, but it’s unclear if any punishments were levied in response to the offensive gesture.

And in reality, this woman is simply lucky to have not missed her cruise ship.

With rare exceptions, cruise ships will not wait for latecomers because it is inconsiderate to the thousands of other timely guests onboard and they often have to adhere to strict schedules to keep the itinerary on track.

More From Cruise Hive

Additionally, staying late in port can also result in additional fees for the cruise line.

If latecomers do miss their ship, they are typically not compensated for any lost cruising time and are responsible for handling their own travel arrangements to reunite with the ship or make their way home.

Carnival Tests New Back-to-Back Procedure Not All Guests Like

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Tests New Back-to-Back Procedure Not All Guests Like

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line is streamlining back-to-back cruise procedures with facial recognition technology.
  • The new process is being tested onboard Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic, but may be introduced fleetwide.
  • Not all guests are happy with the change, but they can opt out of the technology use if preferred.

A back-to-back cruise can be a great way to enjoy a longer cruise vacation without traveling between homeports, but guests sailing more than one voyage in a row still need to complete the appropriate paperwork.

This includes customs and immigration paperwork, which is typically taken care of through passport checks and inspections in between cruises. Carnival Cruise Line is now testing how to make this process faster and smoother for their back-to-back guests.

Standard procedure on Carnival ships is that back-to-back guests need to debark their ship, speak with appropriate agents in the cruise terminal and present their identification, then reboard the ship.

Now, the cruise line’s brand ambassador, John Heald, has announced a new procedure is being put in place onboard two ships to smooth out the back-to-back process.

“Here on the Carnival Magic and Carnival Conquest we are testing something for our back to back cruisers. Working with United States Customs and Border Protection we been able to have the inspectors come onto the ship rather than these back to back guests have to walk into the terminal,” he explained.

“On board guests will use the facial recognition scanners or have a manual check with the officers and that’s it, all done.”

This will greatly speed up the procedure for back-to-back guests to switch between ships, causing less interruption to their cruise experience and letting them get back to the fun right away for their next sailing.

Read Also: Do I Need a Passport to Go on a Cruise? – Full Guide

Heald notes this new procedure is just in a test phase but may yet be rolled out to other homeports.

Carnival Magic is currently homeported from Miami, offering 6-8-night Eastern and Southern Caribbean voyages. Carnival Conquest is also homeported from Miami, but offers primarily 3-4 night Bahamas itineraries.

On both ships, eager cruisers can combine the alternating itineraries for outstanding back-to-back voyages.

Not All Guests Are Happy With the Change

Within minutes of Heald’s announcement, however, at least one unhappy guest reached out to note they would prefer not to consent to the use of facial recognition technology.

“I read about the B2Bs having facial recognition on board. I am on the Conquest. Do I have the right to not use the facial recognition,” the guest asked. “It is a 4th amendment right not to. This is a breach of the US Data Laws and Protection. Why does Carnival need this?”

Heald’s initial announcement did say that “guests will use the facial recognition scanners or have a manual check with the officers.” This seems to indicate that travelers will be able to choose if they’d rather not use facial recognition for their customs clearance.

Carnival Cruise Ships in Miami, Florida
Carnival Cruise Ships in Miami, Florida (Photo Credit: Grindstone Media Group)

When the technology was first introduced to the Port of Jacksonville in 2023, US Customs and Border Protection verified that guests can choose not to use it.

“U.S. travelers and select foreign nationals may opt out of the facial biometric process and can request a manual document check from a CBP Officer, consistent with existing requirements for admission into the United States,” they stated.

Heald does respond to the guest’s concern, noting that not all guests will be using the facial recognition even on back-to-back sailings.

“This facial recognition technology to clear USCBP is only for those guests that have a passport,” he said.

As to the amendment rights and data laws and protections, guests could consult a legal expert for those concerns. The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution, however, only discusses against “unreasonable searches and seizures” but has no bearing on identification processes.

Nevertheless, Heald suggests “you should discuss this with the USCBP inspector who I am sure will help you accordingly.”

Does Facial Recognition Really Help Cruisers?

As facial recognition scanners have been added to different cruise homeports, both the cruise check-in and debarkation processes have been greatly sped up.

It might take 20-40 minutes to check in for a cruise, even with priority line access. Similarly, debarking and passing through customs after a cruise might take 15-20 minutes. Now, the scanners take just seconds to verify guests’ identities and keep the line moving.

More From Cruise Hive

This new process will undoubtedly be welcomed by most back-to-back cruisers, giving them even more time to enjoy their vacations without interruption.

Carnival Sunshine Heads to Texas as Spirit Sails Tampa in 2027 Shakeup

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Sunshine Heads to Texas as Spirit Sails Tampa in 2027 Shakeup

Key Aspects:

  • Carnival Cruise Line has changed deployments and will now bring Carnival Sunshine to Texas in 2027.
  • Carnival Spirit will now be homeporting from Tampa in 2027 with Western Caribbean sailings from 6-8 nights.
  • This ends rumors that Carnival Sunshine might be retired after leaving Norfolk in 2027.

Just weeks after announcing where Carnival Spirit would bring the fun in 2027 and 2028, Carnival Cruise Line has now revised those deployment plans and is sending the ship to Tampa instead of Galveston.

At the same time, the fate of Carnival Sunshine has been announced and the popular vessel will be moving to Texas after finishing her time in Norfolk.

“We’re excited to introduce Carnival Sunshine to Galveston for the first time and bring Carnival Spirit to Tampa,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “This move allows us to serve more guests in Galveston where we continue to see strong demand and introduce new, longer Caribbean itineraries for guests sailing from Tampa.”

Carnival Spirit Moving to Tampa

In early September 2025, Carnival announced that Carnival Spirit would sail from the Lone Star State for the first time ever, offering sailings from 4-10 nights. This deployment was to have begun in October 2027, after the ship’s season in Alaska.

While Carnival Spirit will still sail in the Last Frontier in the summer of 2027, she will now be going to Tampa after the Alaska season ends.

From the Sunshine State, Carnival Spirit will offer 6-, 7-, and 8-night sailings to top Western Caribbean destinations, including Belize, Roatan, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Mexico.

The ship will also offer several highly coveted 8-night Panama Canal sailings, and on January 30, 2028, she will set sail on a 13-night Carnival Journeys cruise to Grand Cayman, Panama, Aruba, Curacao, and Jamaica.

Carnival Sunshine in Texas

Cruising in Texas will be a little bit brighter with Carnival Sunshine now planned to homeport from the Lone Star State beginning in late 2027.

This keeps four Carnival cruise ships sailing from Galveston as planned, but brings even more guest capacity to the rapidly growing homeport.

For comparison, Carnival Spirit can welcome just 2,124 guests, while Carnival Sunshine is larger and can welcome 3,002 guests.

Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk
Carnival Sunshine in Norfolk (Photo Credit: Eli Wilson / Shutterstock)

From Texas, Carnival Sunshine will offer the 4-10 night itineraries previously planned for Carnival Spirit, plus eight new itineraries for even more cruising fun.

The 10-night sailings are expected to be especially popular with visits to Cozumel, Roatan, Jamaica, Belize, Panama, Costa Rica, and other destinations, depending on sailing date.

This will be a great relief for fans of Carnival Sunshine, now one of the oldest ships in the Carnival fleet. Some speculation had been growing that the ship might be retired after her time in Norfolk, as she would be the same age as Carnival Ecstasy was when that Fantasy-class ship was retired in 2022.

Bookings for both Carnival Spirit and Carnival Sunshine are now open and sure to be selling fast as eager cruisers take advantage of these new deployment plans.

What About Norfolk?

Carnival Cruise Line has already announced that Carnival Freedom will be moving to Norfolk, Virginia, in May 2027, following a special 15-night, one-way Carnival Journeys cruise from Port Canaveral.

More From Cruise Hive

That unique sailing, departing Florida on May 8, 2027, will be visiting Aruba, Curacao, Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas before arriving in the Old Dominion state on May 23.

This shakeup of deployment plans will bring more choices to the homeports Carnival guests love and gives travelers even more options for their future Fun Ship vacations.

Navigator of the Seas Waterslides Closed Amid Fleet-Wide Safety Fix

Catie Kovelman
-
0
Navigator of the Seas Waterslides Closed Amid Fleet-Wide Safety Fix

Key Aspects:

  • Navigator of the Seas’ two waterslides will be out of service until just before Christmas due to maintenance.
  • This is part of a fleet-wide inspection and replacement process that has begun after a waterslide shattered onboard Icon of the Seas earlier this year.

Some recent guests of Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas have sounded the alarm after realizing that both waterslides onboard are currently out of commission – but this is for a very good reason.

The cruise line is replacing the clear acrylic panels on The Blaster and Riptide waterslides with new fiberglass tubing for safety reasons.

This follows a shocking incident in August, during which an acrylic glass panel onboard Icon of the Seas’ Frightening Bolt waterslide shattered while a passenger was riding it.

This prompted Royal Caribbean to close, inspect, and replace the tubing on the slides for both of the Icon-class ships.

Now, this is carrying over to inspections of the slides featured onboard the other ships in the fleet out of an abundance of caution.

“It’s those acrylic tube parts that are cracking on us. So we just said, you know what? Enough’s enough,” Captain James explained while addressing guests of Navigator of the Seas.

“And we had them checked out by engineers as well, and they said, like, you’ve got to take them out of service,” he continued.

He also mentioned that other ships were having problems, but many already had spare parts onboard, unlike Navigator of the Seas. His speech was posted on TikTok by a travel professional who goes by @traveling balloonguy2 on the platform.

He went on to explain that the engineering team has had to refabricate the parts and will soon replace the acrylic with safer and more durable fiberglass pieces.

@travelingballoonguy2

Navigator of the Seas Slide Update #royalcaribbean #captainjames #navigatoroftheseas #brokenslide #constructionzine

♬ original sound – 🎈Travelingballoonguy-Agent🛳️

Guests React to Slide Closures

The 3,368-guest Navigator of the Seas is currently homeporting in Los Angeles, California, and operating sailings to Mexico.

Even as we approach the cooler winter months, the weather is still warm enough for water-filled fun.

Understandably, some passengers have been disappointed to find that both slides are temporarily out of order upon embarking without receiving prior notice.

“So no waterslides for us I guess. Would have been nice to know what we were in for a month ago when they knew. But it’s ok, as compensation, they allowed us to make a formal complaint,” one recent guest complained on Reddit.

Out of Action Water Slide on Navigator of the Seas
Out of Action Water Slide on Navigator of the Seas (Photo Credit: Armour3d)

That said, Royal Caribbean is allowed to close off sections of the ship or specific attractions without prior notice for a variety of causes, and especially for safety-related reasons.

But thankfully, the slides won’t be out of order for too long.

Captain James said the installation of the new parts is expected to begin for the Riptide mat racer slide on December 1, 2025, and all of the maintenance should be done for both slides by December 22.

He also stated that the process is taking longer for the Voyager-class ship than it has for other Royal Caribbean ships because the new parts had to be custom-made.

More From Cruise Hive

“It’s taking time because every section is like a custom section. There were other ships that had problems with theirs, but it’s just, in the whole fabrication process there were actually spare parts lying around,” Captain James explained.

“Ours had to be kind of done from new with the moulds and everything, and that’s why it’s dragging,” the master of the ship added.

In the meantime, guests looking for water-filled fun can still experience the pool and pool deck, as well as the Flowrider Surf Simulator.

Disney Cruise Line Now Restricting Very Popular Packing Item

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Disney Cruise Line Now Restricting Very Popular Packing Item

Key Aspects:

  • More hair dryers are being confiscated aboard Disney ships, perhaps due to voltage and wattage restrictions.
  • One travel agent has shared her hilarious experience with “Hair Jail” aboard Disney Destiny to caution others.
  • Guests on any cruise line should always check the prohibited items list to be sure what they pack is permitted.

Many cruise guests want to look their best onboard, whether glamming up for a formal night, enjoying the elevated experience of specialty dining, or just making sure they can look great in every selfie throughout their oceangoing getaway.

For many travelers, that includes specialized hair care with the appropriate styling tools. Disney Cruise Line, however, has now tightened restrictions for one very popular styling appliance: hair dryers.

One recent guest aboard the new Disney Destiny discovered this restriction the hard way, when her Gamma hair dryer was confiscated at embarkation.

Beci Mahnken shared her story on Facebook as a heads-up to other Disney cruisers so they don’t have the same awkward and embarrassing “walk of shame” to collect a confiscated item at the end of the sailing.

“My trusty blow dryer – the one I’ve used for years – it probably has Pearl status on its own – got itself confiscated on the Disney Destiny,” she described. “Yup. When I opened my bag, I got a little note: ‘Welcome aboard – we took your blow dryer!'”

The note Mahnken received included a receipt for her hair dryer, noting that it was confiscated by security and that she’d be able to pick it up in the cruise terminal in Port Everglades at the end of the sailing.

Received Ticket on Disney Destiny
Received Ticket on Disney Destiny (Photo Credit: Beci Mahnken)

True to Disney style, the note was exceedingly polite and still wished that she would “Have a magical day!” following the surprise confiscation.

Mahnken was aboard the ship’s November 10, 2025 sailing, a 3-night preview sailing for travel agents and similar industry personnel.

Why the Sudden Change in Hair Dryer Policies?

So how could such an experienced traveler, who has extensive firsthand knowledge of Disney Cruise Line, accidentally bring a prohibited item to Disney Destiny?

The policy change may be a recent one, as Mahnken claims to have brought the exact-same hair dryer with her enough to have “Pearl status of its own.”

Pearl is the highest level of Disney Cruise Line’s Castaway Club loyalty program. To reach that level, guests must have sailed with the premium cruise line at least 25 times. (Lucky hair dryer!)

The Pearl tier was only introduced in May 2023, as the cruise line celebrated its 25th birthday.

Mahnken speculates that the new restriction may be due to safety concerns with LNG fuel. This may not necessarily be true, however, since both Disney Wish and Disney Treasure are also LNG-powered and debuted in 2022 and 2024, respectively.

Disney Destiny, River Ems
Disney Destiny, River Ems

She notes that hers was not the only hair dryer to end up in “Hair Jail” on the cruise.

“At the end of the cruise, cue the walk of shame to the confiscated items desk in the port,” she described. “My Gamma dryer was lounging with at least 30 Dysons — all sitting there like they were on a luxury spa retreat, probably swapping blow-dryer gossip and judging the multiple steamers hanging out too.”

Read Also: What Can You Not Bring on a Cruise?

Fortunately, Mahnken took her finger-wagging confiscation with good humor and only seeks to ensure other travelers understand the policy and pack along the appropriate hair appliances for their own sailings.

What Hair Dryers Are Available for Guests to Use?

Disney Cruise Line’s prohibited items list does note that hair dryers are permitted, but only within specified operating parameters.

“Hairdryers must be 220V/2000 watts max or 110V/1500 watts max,” the list explains.

It’s unclear whether the policy has been recently updated or perhaps enforcement is becoming more consistent.

All staterooms on all Disney cruise ships are equipped with hair dryers, though they may not be guests’ preferred brand and may not have the styling attachments guests need.

Common complaints with cruise ship hair dryers are that they are often not as powerful or don’t heat up as strongly as other models. This can certainly be a concern for anyone with very thick, coarse, or challenging hair, as it can make drying one’s hair a much slower process.

More From Cruise Hive

Some hair dryers are permanently attached to a specific outlet, which can make styling more of a challenge, as guests cannot move around as much as they like while using the dryer.

Most cruise lines do permit guests to pack along hair dryers, but do not have specific restrictions on models or ratings. Cruise lines do reserve the right to inspect such hair appliances, however, and anything deemed a potential safety risk will be confiscated.

Carnival Dream Lifeboat Falls During Unmanned Test

Melissa Mayntz
-
0
Carnival Dream Lifeboat Falls During Unmanned Test

Key Aspects:

  • A lifeboat fell from Carnival Dream while the cruise ship was testing the boat while docked in Cozumel, Mexico.
  • The lifeboat is significantly damaged, but the cruise ship appears to be fine, and no injuries have been reported.
  • There is no word yet if Carnival Dream will be delayed or if there will be any adjustments due to this incident.

In a bizarre incident, a lifeboat onboard Carnival Dream has broken off the ship and fallen into the water. Significant structural damage has been done to the lifeboat, with part of the emergency craft still attached to the cruise ship.

Carnival Dream is currently on a 6-night Western Caribbean voyage that departed from Galveston, Texas on Saturday, November 15, 2025. Thus far the sailing has been uneventful, and today the ship is docked in Cozumel, Mexico.

While docked, witnesses on other cruise ships have seen the wrecked lifeboat. The emergency craft appeared to break apart and fall from Carnival Dream, landing in the water and drifting about until it lodged partially underneath the pier.

It is Lifeboat 3 that has fallen. That lifeboat’s location is forward on Carnival Dream‘s starboard side. Fortunately, the cruise ship docked on its port side, so the lifeboat fell into the water rather than onto the adjacent pier.

Part of the lifeboat’s orange top structure remains attached to Carnival Dream, having torn away as the lifeboat fell.

Cruise Hive reached out to Carnival Cruise Line and confirmed the cause of the incident.

“The team on Carnival Dream was conducting an unmanned test of lowering one of the lifeboats when a latch got caught on one of the cables, resulting in the vessel hanging from one end then falling into the water below,” a spokesperson for the cruise line confirmed with Cruise Hive. “No one was injured.”

It is not uncommon for cruise lines to conduct lifeboat tests while ships are docked in port. This can include tests of the davit system to raise and lower the boats as well as full drills with multiple lifeboats launched to simulate emergency operations.

Nearby Lifeboats 1 and 5 do not appear damaged in any way. There also does not appear to be any damage to Carnival Dream‘s hull.

Part of Damaged Carnival Dream Lifeboat
Part of Damaged Carnival Dream Lifeboat (Photo Credit: Charles Miller)

Also in port in Cozumel with Carnival Dream today are Regal Princess, MSC Seashore, Icon of the Seas, Carnival Breeze, Celebrity Eclipse, and Seven Seas Splendor.

Can Carnival Dream Still Set Sail?

While Lifeboat 3 was only being tested when it fell from the ship, this does raise the question about whether or not Carnival Dream will be able to set sail from Cozumel on schedule.

Photos of the damaged lifeboat do show significant structural damage to the emergency craft, including what appears to be a broad crack extending vertically down the boat’s stern.

Damaged Carnival Dream Lifeboat
Damaged Carnival Dream Lifeboat (Photo Credits: Charles Miller)

Undoubtedly, the lifeboat is no longer in compliance with safety regulations and would be unable to be used in case of an emergency, such as an overboard rescue or a ship evacuation.

Read Also: Cruise Ship Lifeboats – Are There Enough and What You Might Not Know

While all cruise ships carry more than enough lifeboats and life rafts for all souls onboard, including both guests and crew members, it remains to be seen if the remaining lifeboat capacity is sufficient for Carnival Dream to set sail with one less lifeboat.

It is likely that other lifeboats will also need inspections to ascertain their safety to ensure a similar incident does not happen to any other lifeboats.

Not the First Lifeboat Incident

Strange incidents with cruise ship lifeboats are rare, but the incident with Carnival Dream is not the first.

In December 2022, a lifeboat fell from Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas. That incident appeared to happen during tendering operations, and the lifeboat was damaged on its aft starboard corner.

Quantum of the Seas was sailing in the South Pacific at the time, but there were no reports of injuries. Tendering at Mystery Island that day was slower than expected, but there were no delays to the ship’s itinerary.

More From Cruise Hive

A cruise ship’s lifeboats are more than just “abandon ship” vehicles. In some ports of call, they will be used as ship-to-shore tenders. One or more lifeboats may also be used if necessary for refugee rescues or man overboard searches.

Norwegian’s Newest Ship to Feature Elton John Tribute Show

Donna Tunney
-
0
Norwegian’s Newest Ship to Feature Elton John Tribute Show

Key Aspects:

  • Norwegian Cruise Line unveiled several entertainment options Norwegian Luna will offer when she debuts in 2026.
  • Two ground-breaking productions are a celebration of Elton John’s music and a futuristic reality show.
  • Activities for children include the ocean-inspired “Sea of Discovery” festival.

When Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Luna debuts in March 2026, the Prima Plus-class ship will offer an ambitious roster of entertainment choices, from an ocean-inspired festival for youngsters to thrilling acrobatic performances and Broadway-style productions.

But the premier events, announced by the line on November 19, 2025, will undoubtedly be “Rocket Man: A Celebration of Elton John” and “HIKO: Innovation Meets Wonder,” a science fiction reality show.

The Elton John tribute will feature his greatest hits, such as “Tiny Dancer” and the show’s namesake, “Rocket Man,” and archival images of the superstar.

“As a lifelong music fan, I’m especially excited to celebrate the work of Elton John, an icon whose influence spans generations, with a show that is as dynamic and unforgettable as the artist himself,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

“With Norwegian Luna, we’re building on that tradition by delivering spectacular new productions and immersive programming designed to surprise and delight our guests,” added Sommer.

The show “HIKO: Innovation Meets Wonder” promises to take guests into the future with visuals and costumes by Guy Brassard, a designer for Cirque du Soleil. The production features thrilling acrobatics set to an original musical score.

Rocket Man
Rocket Man

Norwegian Luna is under construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, Italy, and is in the final stages of outfitting. The 3,550-guest ship is the second in the line’s Prima Plus-class, after Norwegian Aqua, which launched in April 2025.

Norwegian Luna was floated out of her construction bay in March 2025, and will sail her inaugural voyage from Rome on March 10, 2026. The ship will arrive at PortMiami on March 23, 2026, her homeport until April 2027.

Entertainment Designed For Youngsters And Adults

In addition to the Elton John and HIKO productions, Norwegian Cruise Line detailed a slew of other entertainment choices that await guests who book a sailing on Norwegian Luna.

Read Also: Norwegian Cruise Line vs. Royal Caribbean: The Differences

Highlights include“Sea of Discovery: An Under-the-Sea Festival” designed for children and inspired by the ocean, featuring an interactive experience seen through the eyes of a fish. Activities include games and costumes.

For adults, another rock and roll production — “Syd Norman’s Presents: A Tribute to Eagles,” will look back on the 1970s band music, while “LunaTique” is an adult-only comedy show. 

Other venues for adults are the Luna Theater & Club, a three-story Las Vegas-style nightclub.

Guests of all ages can dance to live music at two new deck parties, Island Nights and Latin LIVE!, with both promising exciting experiences under the stars.

Once homeported at PortMiami, Norwegian Luna will operate 7-day cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Port calls will feature Great Stirrup Cay, the line’s private island in the Bahamas now undergoing a massive renovation.

More From Cruise Hive

When completed in summer 2026, the destination will offer the Great Tides Waterpark with 19 waterslides, plus cabana rentals, and a heated pool.

In April 2027, Norwegian Luna will deploy to New York and sail 4- and 7-day cruises to Bermuda through October 2027.

1...828384...601Page 83 of 601